tesuji means A skilful move to achieve a tactical objective.
Why “tesuji” is a great word
A skillful and clever tactical move in a board game, especially Go or Shogi, to achieve a specific local objective. From Japanese 手筋 (tesuji), from 手 (te, "hand, move") + 筋 (suji, "line, muscle, logical sequence"). Unlike "tsumego" (which refers to a practice problem of a killing or saving sequence) or "joseki" (which denotes a balanced, standard opening pattern), tesuji is the emergent spark of tactical genius—improvised, applied, alive. It is the deft exchange that sacrifices three stones to capture five, the subtle placement that simultaneously threatens two vital groups, and the unexpected diagonal cut that unravels an opponent’s grip: a flicker of perfect order conjured from a wilderness of possibility.
Etymology
From Japanese 手筋 (tesuji).
noun
- A skilful move to achieve a tactical objectivee.g.“I found a tesuji to save my group.”
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
Words closest in meaning
By meaning, not spelling — each word's AI semantic fingerprint, nearest first.
- joseki 63% match — A studied and standardized sequence of moves in game of Go, especially at a corner of the board, in the opening phase of a game. Joseki have a variety of outcomes and can be beneficial or detrimental based on the situation. However, Joseki theoretically include the best moves locally for each player. vs tesuji →
- tenuki 58% match — playing elsewhere; ignoring the opponent's last move. vs tesuji →
- taijutsu 54% match — Japanese martial arts techniques that rely on a set of body movements without weapons. vs tesuji →
- seki 53% match — In the game of Go, a state of impasse where neither player can benefit from playing in a location vs tesuji →
- jigo 49% match — A draw in the game of go. vs tesuji →
- kenjutsu 47% match — Japanese swordsmanship vs tesuji →
- kinjite 47% match — A foul or forbidden move. vs tesuji →
- tsutaezori 46% match — A kimarite in which the attacker dives under his opponent's arm whilst maintaining a grip on it, then leans back, forcing him to fall forward. vs tesuji →